Daily Bible Study April 5, 2002

Scripture and Footnotes, and Summary:

Beginning study on Romans

Chapter 3 (NKJV)

Part a

God's Judgment Defended - Justification by Faith, Not by
the Law

1 What advantage then has the Jew, or what is the
profit of circumcision?
2 Much in every way! Chiefly because to them were
committed the oracles of God.
3 For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief
make the faithfulness of God without effect?
4Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a
liar. As it is written:
"That You may be justified in Your words,
And may overcome when You are judged."[1]
5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the
righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust
who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.)
6 Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world?
7 For if the truth of God has increased through my lie
to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner?
8 And why not say, "Let us do evil that good may
come"?--as we are slanderously reported and as some
affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just.

Commentary:

It's a privilege, as God's chosen people,
to be chosen again through Jesus Christ. However, unrighteousness
does nothing for us. Even though it shows God's righteousness, we
gain nothing by being unrighteous. We deserve wrath!

There are deep philosophical reasonings
that sin is good, because it shows forth God. Paul is saying this
reasoning is a lie.

Summary of Today's Study:

We are just in being condemned if somehow
we think that our unrighteousness makes us automatic beneficiaries of Christ's
righteousness. That is not why He saves us!Note that on different days,
the placement of the commentary on the page will vary. Sometimes,
I will use the left pane and sometimes the right pane.How are you coming at writing out, or
even memorizing scripture? This is the best way to study!

Romans Study: Questions, Commentary, and more:

Romans is a primer on
the relationship of the Believer to The Lord Jesus Christ.

Today we are continuing with our study
on Chapter 2 of Romans.

Keep in mind, as we study,
that we want to address:

1. How am I saved?

2. Can I lose my salvation (that
is, if I commit a sin, will I find I am no longer saved)?

3. If I keep on sinning, will
I be saved?

4. Is there victory over sin?

5. If I neglect my relationship
with the Lord Jesus, what happens to my salvation?

6. Once I am saved, do I have
license to keep on sinning?

The further issues are:

7. Once I am saved, how do I
keep from sinning?

8. Is it something I do, and
thus it becomes an issue of pride? Or is it a work that God does in our
lives?

9. Can we ever expect to overcome
sin? If we do, how does it happen? How are we set free?

10. If a person backslides in
his faith, and doesn't come back to vibrant Christian faith, is he saved
if he is in that condition when he dies?

Today's passage I always found confusing.
Now I realize why. Paul is arguing against empty philosophy, the
kind of reasonning I never understood in the first place. But Paul
is absolutely right!

Scripture is quoted
today from the New King James Version. We work with various versions,
because we believe that being well studied in the scripture will enable
us to rightly divide the word of truth. We encourage you to do likewise,
because of the insights we have gotten. Familiarize yourself with one,
and then go on to use others.

My commentary
is copyrightRick
Galbraith, April 5, 2002. It is
my "daily devotions," my own study of the Scriptures, and you are invited
to share it with me.